Flagler, Osceola schoolsâ new COVID-19 quarantine policies Share Updated: 7:15 PM EDT Aug 3, 2021 Share Updated: 7:15 PM EDT Aug 3, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript MARLEI: ROLLING INTO THE WNE SCHOOL YEAR, IN FLAGLER COUNTY, AS STUDENTS PICK UP THEIR SCHEDULES AND ID CARDS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE PREPARING, AS WELL, WITH AEW N QUARANTINE POLICY. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, IF A STUDENT OR TEACHER IS EXPOSED TO COVID-19, THEY CAN STILL GO TO CLASS IF THEY TAKE A RAPID TEST EVERY OTHEDAR Y. THIS WEEK, THE FLAGLER HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS SETTING UP THESE TENTS FOR RAPID TESTS SO YOU DONâT NECESSARILY HAVE TO QUARANTINE. IF YOUâRE ASYMPTOMATIC, YOU CAN STOP BY HERE BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL AND GET THE RESULTS IN JUST 15 MITENUS. >> AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO TEST NEGATIVE FOR UP TO A 10-DAY PERIOD, THIS CAN BE THEIR GREEN CARD TO STAY IN SCHOOLIN, PERSON INSTRUCTION, TEACH AND STAY WORKING AS A STAFF MEMBER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. MARLEI: FLAGLER SCHOOLS IS THE ONLY DISTRICT AMONG THESE CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOL SYSTEMS OFFERING THIS NEW OPTI.ON FLAGLERâS HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED THE PROGRAM AND IS PAYING FOR IT WITH FEDERAL MONEY FOR TESTG.IN A HELPFUL OPTION, THEY SAY, FOR WORKING PARENTS. AND THE STDIRICTâS SAFETY SPECIALIST TELLS ME THEYâRE ON BOARD FOR THE STUDENTSâ SAKE. >> IT SHOWS HOW WEâRE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOW WEâRE TRYING TO CREATE AS MUCH OF A NORMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IF YOU CAN SAY THAT FOR THE 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR. OUR FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON INSTRUCTION AND MOVING STUDESNT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION EDUCATIONALLY. MARLEI: OSCEOLA COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE MOVING DIRECTIONTOO., SINCE SOME STUDENTS HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO GET A VACCI. THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS IF A STUDENT HAS GOTTEN A ST,HO THEY DONâT HAVE TO QUARANTINEF I THEYâRE EXPOSED, AS LONG AS THEYâRE ASYMPTOMATIC. >> WE SIMPLY SAY THAT THEY NEED TO MONITOR FOR SYMPTOMS AND WE ASK THAT THEY WEAR MASKS FOR THOSE 5 TO 6 DAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEYâRE NOT GOING TO COME DOWN WITH COVID. MARLEI: BUT MAJORITY OF KIDS HAVENâT BEEN VACCINATED YET. SO WHEN WILL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FIND OUT IF THEY EDNE TO QUARANTE?IN DR. DEBRA PACE SAYS IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE WITH DIRECT EXPOSURE WILL GET A PHONE CALL THAT EYTH NEED TO GO HOME OR GET PICKED UP, AND PEOPLE WITH INDIRECT EXPOSURE WILL GET A LETTER. >> WHAT WE DO ALLOW TEACHERS TO DO IF THEYâVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE WHOâS POSITIVE AND YET THEYâRE FEELING OK, THEY CAN TEACH VIRTUALLY FROM HOME. WE STILL HAVE A SUBSTITUTE IN THE CLASSROOM TO MONITOR THE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT FOR LEARNING, BUT THE TEACHER CAN CONTINUE TEACHING. NOW OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY ARE ILL OR THEY DONâT WANT TO DO THAT, THEN THEY WOULD JUST BE OUT ON THEIR SICK LEAVE. MARLEI: BREVARD SCHOOLS HAS THAT SAME OPTION, AND SPOKESMAN RUSSELL BRUHN SAYS THEYâLL BE FLEXIBLE WITH ATNDTEANCE WHEN IT COMES TO COVID. >> SO THAT THE STUDENT AND THE FAMILY IS NOT PENALIZED FOR HAVING EXCESSIVE ABSENCES. BECAUSE WEâD RATHER ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTN.IO ALTHOUGH WE DO NEED OUR KIDS BACK IN CLASS. WE HAVE A SLIDE OF EDUCATION, AND SO WEâRE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEYâRE THE.RE HOWEVER, WEâRE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT WIT IH,F YOUâRE SICK, DONâT COME TO SCHOOL AND DONâT COME TO WORK. MARLEI: LAST YEAR, SCHOOLS FACED A LEARNING CURVE WITH COVID PROTOCOLS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT. THIS YEAR, SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAY THEY HAVE A PLAN. MARLEI MARTINEZ, WESH